About Aaron Celestian, Ph.D., Associate Curator

Dr. Celestian joined the NHM in January 2016 as Associate Curator after being an Associate Professor of Geology at Western Kentucky University for 8 years. He received his Bachelor’s of Science in Geology (emphasis in Mineralogy) from the University of Arizona (1999), and both Master’s (2002) and Ph.D. (2006) from Stony Brook University. Dr. Celestian is also an Associate Editor for the American Mineralogist.

His main research goals as a mineralogist and geochemist are to probe the secrets of how Earth materials grow and react in their environments, and to take that understanding to predict and design new materials for environmental and industrial applications. To better model how these important porous minerals grow and behave, Dr. Celestian focuses on using in situ and time-resolved techniques to measure atomic positions and molecular motions in operando. Dr. Celestian commonly travels to national and international synchrotron and neutron facilities that enable to him to perform these experiments.

Alyssa R. Morgan, M.S., Collections Manager

In September 2007, Alyssa Morgan joined the Mineral Sciences Department as Collections Manager. Alyssa began collecting rocks and meteorites as a child, which was the beginning of a life-long passion for science. She received her bachelor’s degree in Geological Sciences from the University of Washington and her master’s degree in Geological Sciences from Brown University. Her specialties were experimental igneous petrology and planetary geology. Her research focused on the petrogenesis of lunar volcanic rocks and the composition and evolution of the lunar mantle.

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About Fine Mineral Show

We strongly believe that mineral shows provide not just a setting for procurement of the specimens to make your collection grow, but a venue to learn, meet potential mentors (or be one) and see, touch and feel nature's art in real time.

Our mission is to support the hobby in any positive way we can and to create more collectors of fine mineral specimens.